Joining the ranks of notable personalities honoring the legendary 2Pac as Hip Hop marks its 50th anniversary, Ne-Yo recently graced The Gloria Velez Podcast. During his appearance, the accomplished R&B artist, aged 43, recounted his initial skepticism upon hearing about 2Pac’s untimely passing, deeming it mere “tabloid” news during a brief stay in California. Ne-Yo then delved into the reasons behind 2Pac’s enduring legacy, which continues to captivate audiences across the globe.
“He was a pastor. He was good for a word, good for a sermon,” Ne-Yo began. “He was an amazing storyteller. His passion alone could carry him. You might not even need to know what he’s saying — just the way that he would say it and the energy and passion he would put into what he was saying.”
Ne-Yo continued, describing how 2Pac’s influence was contagious, even inciting unlikely reactions. He playfully gestured, “It was contagious. You couldn’t listen to it and not throw up a West side,” he continued,. “You from New Jersey or something and be like, ‘What the hell am I doing? Wait a minute,’” humorously noting 2Pac’s origin in New York City.
Often likened to a street preacher, Ne-Yo highlighted how 2Pac’s lyrical themes mirrored the pulse of the neighborhood. He underlined the fact that this perspective rarely found a positive spotlight in mainstream news, making 2Pac a vocal “ghetto newscaster.” “He was like a ghetto minister. He was talking about what was happening in the hood. You weren’t going to get that broadcast on the news, at least not in a positive way. So he was one of our ghetto newscasters. ‘This is what’s happening in the hood today and you locked into it.” Ne-Yo emphasized.
Ne-Yo’s sentiments concerning 2Pac follow a period of scrutiny he faced after addressing the contentious topic of gender transitioning.
In an earlier part of his conversation with Velez, the renowned singer of “Miss Independent” expressed his reservations about children having the autonomy to decide their genders. Ne-Yo voiced skepticism about allowing a child, who he referred to as “Daddy’s little boy,” to choose their gender identity. He raised questions about the origins of such desires and criticized the concept of youngsters making life-altering decisions.
Ne-Yo’s remarks prompted a swift backlash, with fans demanding an apology from the artist. A few days later, he took to social media to express his remorse for the controversy his comments had stirred.